Ev Butler

I have often thought that an all Boeing, Airbus, etc fleet. would be better for maintenance crews and parts inventory. However, what with all the mergers, it just ain't possible. Too many variants when there are mergers. Southwest has a good thing going with most of their fleet having interchangeable parts, simulators, etc.

Last time I saw this Connie was at the Pima Air Museum complete with Kennedy's orthopedic chair. It was in 2003, IIRC. A 707 painted with AF1 livery was just across the spot where the Connie was parked. I was told by the curator that the Connie was the presidential aircraft prior to the 707s being delivered.

Sure brings back a lot of memories. Back when they had mostly DC-9s and 722s, I spent many days at CLT as a young man with my kids at the end of the runway. The jet blast rocking my vehicle as they took off.

It is possible but not practical. RyanAir wanted to eliminate the toilets altogether on their planes. They can add more seats where the toilets are. More seats, more revenue. Also, less toilets, less weight. It would certainly be more convenient for the pilots. It just ain't gonna happen.

I don't think it was lack of oxygen. In the crates I have flown, the flight deck had the same environment as the cabin. Airbus may have a sealed cockpit. If so, it is different from a Boeing or MD-80 series. Lose oxygen on the fight deck and the rest of the craft loses atmosphere also. It is not a cocoon with its own atmosphere, is it? Thus, I dismiss the hypoxia theory.

P&W makes efficiency improvements in their engines to help the airlines make more money, OK? Now, they want the savings returned to them. Yes, maybe they can get away with it. When a company has a monopoly on efficient engines, they can charge whatever they want to. This will encourage Rolls-Royce and GE to come up with more efficient engines. Then charge for them whatever the traffic will bear. Like Ed said, some bosses may be pounding the pavement looking for a job.